Automatic Wipers Issue

[RichCliff]

Hi,

I have a Citroen C5 2004 (earlier model) 1.8i LX. I know it is the most cheaper of the specifications of Citroen C5 but i have a manual that came with the car and most of what is inside the manual is for the more up market models. So, i'm not sure if I have automatic wipers or not.

 

My wiper stalk has "Auto" written on it when in the default/off position. However if it starts raining, my wipers do not actuate. Although, sometimes (!) my side windows will automatically shut when it does start raining.

 

So, i have a few questions...

1. Does my model have automatic wipers (it says so on the stalk but i'm wondering if that's a standard for all models)?

2. Where is the sensor for the rain? If my side windows know it is raining then i must have a rain sensor somewhere and i would have thought it would have been connected to the wipers aswell as the windows?

3. My windows only actuate under rainfall every so often, not all of the time so i think perhaps the sensor may be damaged or dirty, but i don't know where it is located.

 

I'm finding the manual pretty useless in regards to my model .So much of it is for higher models that i don't see the point in having it. 

Another example is my manual mentions to press the wiper stalk end button to see MPG/Miles per Gallon however after weeks (when i first got it second hand) of trying this, all i got was a speed warning which made a horrible noise if i went over the speed i accidentally set it at when looking for MPG! I now know that my model only has a single read out and it needs a dual read out to show MPG so i have to upgrade to see this. So again, the manual is telling me one thing, i'm trying to find it in my car and not getting it.

 

I'm wondering now that even though i have "auto" on the wiper stalk, i don't actually have auto wipers even though the windows have a mind of their own.

 

Any help appreciated for a C5 dummy.

[harry bozing]

For the wipers to operate automatically you need to have the wiper stalk in the first position (where intermediate wiper position would be on other care) The sensor is at the top of the windscreen in line with the interior mirror. Once you switch the ignition off it cancels the auto wipe so you have to put it back in position one again. Hope this helps.

[harry bozing]

Sorry, meant to put cars  and not care !!! my bad.

[seefive]

No auto wipers on the LX..

 

 LX models have power-assisted steering, air conditioning, electric front windows, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, driver - passenger - side airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, remote central locking with deadlocks, transponder immobiliser, stereo radio/CD player with steering wheel mounted controls. SX models add climate control, rear sunblind, rain sensitive automatic wipers, electric rear windows, two cup holders and a securing loadspace n

[RichCliff]

Many thanks for your replies, most helpful.

I'll just have to do what other people do then and turn them on myself, which of course i do not have a problem with. Bit odd though that the LX has windows that shut when it rains but not wipers that turn on when it rains. 

 

Thanks for the additional info, seefive.

[paul.h]

As mentioned above, the sensor is on the windscreen at the back of the interior mirror and can be seen from the outside - it also does the auto headlights. The auto wipe replaces a normal intermittant wiper (so you will at least have that) and controls the wipe speed and frequency depending on how much rain hits the windscreen at the sensor. I have found it not that good - the intermittant wipe always waits a bit too long and I would prefer a fixed time. It may be possible the wiper switch (which includes all the comms 2000 unit below the steering wheel) has been replaced since the car was new.

 

On the mpg screen - I think I read on here that the single line one can be replaced by the 2 line one and it will just work without needing anything else doing but we need somebody to confirm this.